Solenoid switch operator



Patented Feb. 24, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,274,558 SOLENOID swrrcn ornas'roa William 1!. Murray, Central Valley, Calif.

Application April 9. 1940, Serial No. 328,785

3Cialms.

This invention relates to solenoid switches and is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 275,097, filed May 22, 1939.

An obiect'oi this invention is to provide an improved switch structure particularly adapted for use in radio tuning devices and controls therefor to turn the electric current on or oil to' the radio receiver.

Another object oi this invention is to provide an improved switch structure and an operating means tor the switch structure, the operating means including a pair of solenoids connected to the switch structure for turning the electric current on or ad to the radio receiver.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved solenoid operated switch structure including a liquid switch, the solenoid switch operator being so constructed that one portion thereof will at all times be in an electric circuit so that when the circuit is closed the switch will be moved either from an open position to a closed position or from a closed or circuit making position to an open or circuit breaking position.

A still i'urther object of this invention is to provide in combination with a solenoid operated switch structure for turning the power line a receiver either on or oil. an improved delayed action switch structure which is adapted to prevent oscillation of the main circuit making and breaking switch structure.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein are shown embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a detail side elevation partly broken away and in section of a solenoid switch structure constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-3 oi Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a schematic view of the electric circuits embodying this switch structure.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral ll designates generally a base structure which is adapted to be constructed of insulating material. The base it has rockabiy mounted thereon a rock shaft II which at each end thereof is provided with reduced trunnions l2. The trunnions l2 rockably engage in upstanding ears I! carried by base flanges ll 01' angle members which are secured as by fastening devices I! to the base ID. The rock shaft H has secured thereto a transversely disposed bar or lever i8 which adjacent each end is provided with pins or contact members I! and I8. The contact members l1 and 18 are of identical construction and each pin is provided with a collar or flange l9 which as shown in Figure l is adapted to engage the underside of the lever or bar IS. The pin I1 is slidable through an opening 20 formed in the bar It adjacent an outer end thereoi and the pin or contact member II has a second collar or flange 2i adjacent the upper end thereoi forming an abutment for one end of a spring 22. The spring 22 engages about the pin II on the upper side of the bar or lever l5 and one end oi the spring 22 engages against the collar 2| whereas the other end 01' the spring 22 engages against the upper side of the lever It. A spring terminal 23 is fixed as by fastening devices 26 to the base plate In and this terminal 23 comprises a pair or upwardly extending yieldable arms 25 between which the pin II is adapted to engage. The terminal 23 is adapted to be connected to one side 0! an electric circuit as will be hereinafter described.

A solenoid coil 25 is disposed above the bar I 8 and is supported above the bar Ii by means oi an upright supporting post or bar 26 provided with a foot 21 secured as by a fastening device 28 to the base Ill. The upper end 01;, the supporting member 26 is provided with a Iorwardly directed exte upper end of the solenoid tening devices III. A solenoid core II is slidahle within the coil 25 and is provided at its lower end with a head 32. The head 22 is connected to the bar or rock lever II at one side of the pivotal mounting of the bar l8 by means of a link I3. The link 33 at its upper end is pivotally secured as by a pivot 3'4 to the head 32 and the lower end or the link 33 is secured by a pivot 35 to the bar l8.

One side of the solenoid coil as is electrically connected to the contact II by means oi a wire or conductor 36 which is connected to the upper end 01 the pin ii. The opposite end 01 the coil 2! is adapted to be connected to an electric circuit as will be hereinafter described.

Thepin ilisconstructedsimilarto thepin I! being urged upwardly by means oi a spring I! iiecured by tas-' so as to maintain the collar 38 in engagement with the underside of the lever [B on the side of the pivotal mounting of this lever opposite from the pin II. A contact clip I8 sim r to the clip 28 is secured as by a fastening d ca 40 to the base l and is adapted to be electrically connected to an electric circuit as will be hereinafter described. ,A solenoid coil H is disposed in laterally spaced relation to the coil 25 and is supported above the opposite end portion of the lever I8 from the coil 25 by a supporting member 42 similar to the supporting member 26. The coil ll has slidable therein a core member 43 which at its lower end is provided with a head 44. The head 44 is connected to the rock lever or bar l6 by means of a link 45 which is pivoted at one end to the head M and at the other end to the bar It. The coil II has one end thereof connected as by a conductor 45 to the contact pin l8 and the other end of the coil Al is adapted to be connected to an electric circuit as will be hereinafter described.

A liquid switch member 41 is mounted on the rock shaft I l at one side of the rock lever or bar It. The switch member 41 is removably mounted on the shaft H by means of a pair of yieldable clip members 48 which are secured to an insulated supporting bar 49. The bar 49 is fixed to the shaft II and extends at right angles thereto as shown in Figure 2. The supporting bar 49 has secured thereto a pair of spring terminals 50 and ii which are fixed to the bar 41 and which engage the opposite end of the liquid switch member 41. The switch member H is so constructed that when the bar It is in one position which is the position shown in Figure 1, an electric circuit in which the switch member I1 is interposed -will be broken. In the opposite position of the rock lever or bar IS, the switch member 41' will close an electric circuit to the power lines of a radio receiver as clearly set forth in my copending application.

In order to provide a means whereby the shaft H may be yieldably held in either a circuit making or a circuit breaking position, I have provided an upwardly extending shaft holding member 52 which is carried by a base 58 fixed as by fastening devices 54 to the base member ID. The

holding member 52 is preferably of yieldable construction and engages against a flat face It provided on the shaft Ii. When the lever I6 is in the position with the terminal pin IB engaging the terminal clip 89 the holding member 52 is adapted to engage a second list face 56 formed on the shaft II. The face is disposed at an obtuse angle to the face 55 as shown in Figure 1.

The holding member 52 will also assist in the shifting of the bar I6 from one position to another as the apex of the angle formed by the flat portions 55 and 58 form a. cam coacting with the spring holding member 52 in rocking the shaft In Figure 4 there are shown the electric circuits within which the solenoid switch structure is interposed. The switch member 41 has one side thereof connected as by a conductor I1 to one side 58 of a source of power supply. The other side of the switch member 41 is connected as by a conductor 69 to one side of the power line of a radio receiver. The other side 60 of the power lines to the radio receiver is connected to a conductor 8| which is connected to the supply source. A switch member generally designated as 62 has one terminal 63 thereof connected to the power line 58 and has a second terminal 64 connected by a conductor 65 to one side of a transformer T. The other side of the transformer T is connected to the conductor iii.

The switch member 82 includes a ;bstantially V-shaped blade structure 68 and a pair of terminals 81 and 6B. The terminal 61 is a dead terminal and the terminal 68 is connected by means of a conductor 69 to the conductor 59. The switch structure 82 is provided for the purpose of either cutting out the transformer T from the power lines 58 and Si or connecting the transformer T to these power lines. When the switch structure 62 has the blade member 56 thereof disposed in the dotted line position, the. transformer T will be cut out and the blade member 66 will connect the two terminals 63 and 69 together and thus cut out the liquid switch 41.

The secondary 10 of the transforms: 'I has one side thereof connected as by conductor II to the opposite side or end of the two coils 25 and ll. The opposite side of the secondary ill is connected as by a conductor 12 to a switch structure 13, the details of which are more fully set forth in my copending application hereinbefore m-zntioned A conductor 74 is connected to the swit. 11 structure I3 and the conductor M is also connected to a terminal I5 of a delayed action sv r-ch structure 16. The switch structure 16 inclu==1 a solenoid coil H, a core 18 slidable therein and a bridging contact is which is adapted to 'LilliiZi the terminal 15 and a second terminal Hi. Th details of the construction of the solenoid switch structure 15 are more fully set forth in my on pending application.

The terminal or contact is connected as in conductor 8| to the contact clips 39 and 23. A conductor 82 is connected at one end to the conductor II and the opposite end of the conductor 82 is adapted to be connected to a receiver controlling or tuning means as set forth in my copending application. A second conductor 83 is connected at one end to the receiver controlline or tuning device embodied in my copending application and also to a terminal 84 which forms a part of the switch structure I3.

In the use and operation of this solenoid switch structure, when the switch II is in a circuit closing position, the circuit from the transformer T will be closed from one side thereof through the conductor II to one side of each of the solenoid coils I1, II and 25. The other side of the circuit will be closed from the conductor 12 through the switch structure 13, conductor 14, contact 15, bridging member 19, contact 80, conductor ill and either one of the switch contact clips 23 or 39 depending upon the position of the rock lever or bar It. Assuming that as shown in the drawing, the pin I I is in engagement with the contact clip 23, the circuit will be completed from the conductor 8| to the clip 23, contact pin I'I, conductor 38 and from the coil 25 to the conductor II. When this circuit is completed, the core 3| will be drawn upwardly by the energization of the coil 25 so as to thereby break the circuit to the contact clip 23. Before this circuit is broken, the rock lever l8 will be permitted a slight movement so as to provide a delayed action in the breaking of the electric circuit to the coil 25. This delayed action is effected by the slidable mounting of the pin I! in the bar It and the cushioning of the pin II by means of the spring 22. When the coil 25 is energized so as to raise the pin l1 and break the electric circuit to the coil 25, the switch member 41 will be rocked to a circuit closing position thereby closing the in my copending circuit from the supply line ",conductor and conductor 50 to one side of the radio receiver.

The other side of the radio receiver is connected by the conductors ill and Ii to the other side of the supply line. In order to provide a means whereby the solenoid switch structure embodying the two solenoids II and II may be prevented from continually rocking the bar II as the coils 25 and I are alternately energized. the circuit breaking structure Ill is provided with a delayed action switch structure and which is adapted to operate slower in its circuit breaking action than the switch structure embodying the solenoids 2B and II. In this manner, when the coil 2! is energized, the adjacent end of the rock lever it will be drawn upwardly so as to close the switch 41 and at the time the contact pin ll engages the spring clip "39, the solenoid core 18 in the switch structure it will move the bridging member is out of contact with the contacts Iii and II.

In this manner the circuit to the coil 4| is broken which is prior to the time that the pin l8 engages the clip 88. However, as the lever i6 is moving downwardly on the side thereof carrying the pin it, the lever ill will continue to move downwardly on this side until the pin it engages the clip 39. The switch structure 13 regulates the operation of' the switch structure embodying the coils 25 and ii and this switch structure 13 is adapted to be opened or closed at desired intervals as more specifically described application.

In the event is desired to cut out the switch structure embodying the switch I! and the coils 25 and ll, the switch structure 62 may be cperated to bridge the two terminals 83 and BI. when this is done the transformer 1 is cut on from the suppLv source and the electric current from the conductor 58 will go through the terminal 83, switch blade 06, terminal BI and conductor 68 to the conductor 59. The conductor B9 is connected to one side of the power line of the radio receiver and the other side of the receiver is connected by conductor 6! to the supply conductor 63.

What I claim is: i

1. A circuit making and breaking device comprising a rock shaft, a transversely disposed lever carried by saidshaft, a liquid switch carried by said shaft, a pair of electro-magnetic members disposed one on each side of said shaft and operatively connecting said members to said shaft to thereby effect rockadiacent the ends thereof, a pair oi movable spring-pressed contact members carried by said lever for alternate engagement with said stationary contacts, and means connecting said movable contact members to said electro-magnetic members.

2. A circuit making and breaking device comprising a rock shaft, a transversely disposed lever carried by said shaft, a liquid switch carried by said shaft, a pair of electro-magnetic members disposed one on each side of said shaft and above said lever, means operatively connecting said members to said shaft to thereby eflect rocking of said shaft and lever, a pair of stationary contacts disposed beneath said lever ad- Jacent the ends thereof; a pair of movable contact members carried by said lever for alternate engagement with said stationary contacts, means mounting said movable contact members on said lever to thereby effect a delay in the breaking of the circuit to an associated electro-magnetic member, cam means carried by said lever, and a resilient holding means engageable with said cam means for yieldably rocking said lever after a movable contact has been disconnected from itsstationary contact.

3. A circuit making and breaking device comprising a rock shaft, a transversely disposed lever carried by said shaft, a liquid switch carried by said shaft, a pair of electro-magnetic members disposed one on each side of said shaft and above said lever, means operatively connecting said members to said shaft to thereby eiiect rocking of said shaft and lever, a pair of stationary contacts disposed beneath said lever adlacent the ends thereof, a pair of movable contact members carried by said lever for alternate engagement with said stationary contacts, said movable contact members being slidable relative to said lever, a collar carried by each movable contact member engaging one side of said lever, and a spring for each contact member the opposite side of said lever and a movable contact member yieldably holding said collar against said lever.

WILLIAM H. MURRAY. 

